The John Rylands University Library at Manchester has a fragment of the Gospel of St. John, dating to the first half of the second century AD. On this small scrap of papyrus, written in Greek and found in Egypt, is Chapter 18 verses 37 and 38:
37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.
Click thru the link here to read about this fascinating piece of history, and to see images of this almost 2000 year old manuscript!
